GUELPH – An updated policy prohibiting the use of school board resources for election campaigns was approved by the Upper Grand District School Board on Sept. 23.
Changes to the policy included updating the name from “Use of Corporate Resources for Elections” to “Use of School Board Resources for Elections,” revising the policy statement and adding definitions and clauses.
The revised policy statement clarifies that board resources and budgets cannot be used towards campaign-related materials for school board, municipal, provincial or federal elections.
It also now specifies that the policy applies to “anyone who works or learns on board property and accesses school board resources.”
This includes community members such as students and parents.
The added clauses note that trustees and board committee members seeking election must ensure campaign activities do not infringe upon official duties, remain impartial when working on behalf of the board, and use school board resources prudently with no ties to campaign activities.
School board resources include physical resources such as school and board premises, technology resources such as devises owned by the board, and intellectual property including the board’s logo.
According to the new policy statement, it “is not meant to restrict trustees from routinely communicating with constituents; however it supports accountable stewardship of school board resources and contributes to confidence in public education.
To read the updated policy visit ugdsb.ca/o/ugdsb/page/policy-111-use-of-corporate-resources-for-elections.
